Page 101 of A Rancher's Love

Inspiration struck in a rush. “Perfect.”

Her brother's expression grew concerned. “What are you doing?”

“I have no idea what you're talking about.” Ginny blinked innocently.

“Bullshit. I’ll pretend you’re not being annoying. Also, now that you've brought up birthdays,” Luke said slyly, “I have a request.”

Kelli leaned back against the counter and folded her arms over her chest. “Is that allowed?”

A cocky, confident grin flashed across his face. “You like it when I tell you what I want.”

Oh, gag.

Ginny made a rude noise. “How come you're allowed to make borderline sex comments around me, but if I even so much as think the word sex, you get all squirmy?”

“You're delusional,” Luke said. “I am a mature, un-squirmy adult male.”

Oh really?

Ginny turned to Kelli. “If you want to plan a getaway, Tucker and I can recommend some great hotels within a two-hour radius. You know, the places we used to meet for our secret trysts so we could spend hours and hours—”

Luke stuck his fingers in his ears and began singing loudly. “La la la la la la la.”

Kelli howled with laughter then pushed him toward the door. “You. Go entertain yourself, and that comment has no sexual connotations intended. Plus, I'm warning you now, if you want me to take Ginny up on that secret tryst information, you'd better be willing to help us with a surprise in a few days, got it?”

He used her own hand to pull their bodies together, kissing her deeply with a great deal of love before letting her go and winking at Ginny. “Always willing to help, and if the surprise is something that's going to make Tucker happy, even better.”

Her brother left, whistling like a freaking bluebird.

Kelli shook her head even as she smiled at Ginny. “He's a jerk sometimes, but damn, I love him.”

“He is a good guy,” Ginny agreed. “Now, let me tell you what I'm thinking, then you tell me how we can make it even better. We start by turning Luke's party into a surprise party for two. Tucker will not be expecting that, but he will definitely be in attendance to celebrate with Luke.”

Kelli's jaw dropped. “That’s perfect. It’s sneaky, and Luke won’t mind, I’m sure of it. And the arcade idea?”

“I have a feeling I know what Tucker would have asked for at his party at age fourteen if he’d gotten a chance to really say what he wanted. Plus, I know just how to make it happen.”

They spent the next hour planning, making shopping lists and phone calls. Nothing too complicated, but very doable and highly entertaining.

Tucker wasn’t going to know what hit him.

Or more literally, he’d know exactly what hit him, and that would make him happy.

Ginny couldn't wait to make it happen.

Tucker dealtwith some last-minute emergencies, including an error in the mess hall kitchen order that needed to be sent off first thing Monday morning.

Too few groceries delivered late to the mess hall was not a good idea. Tucker didn't know if he was more afraid of what the men would do, or the cook, JP. It was probably the surest way to have a riot on his hands.

Which meant by the time he headed up the stairs to Luke’s house, there was a healthy collection of trucks outside. Luke would get a kick out of having all his friends there to celebrate his birthday, and Tucker was damn glad he got to join in this year.

It was the one thing about having a birthday in the winter he'd grown to really dislike. All the kids who had summertime birthdays complained because they never got to have their school friends around. Having a summertime birthday would have meant Tucker celebrating with the Stones.

Truth came in many forms. Him being here in Silver Stone now was nearly the best almost-birthday present he could have asked for.

He took a deep breath of the crisp wintery air in satisfaction.

One step into the house, and happiness struck even harder as he breathed in the savory scent on the air, and the sound of laughter echoing through the room filled his ears.